Catholic World Day of Migrants and Refugees

The St Vincent de Paul Society in Australia will mark the Catholic Church’s World Day of Migrants and Refugees on Sunday 25 September by urging the Albanese Government to fulfil its promise to give permanent protection to 19,000 refugees trapped for nearly a decade on temporary visas.

The Australian Government’s recent decisions to increase our 2022-23 migrant intake to 195,000 places and to reform Australia’s migration system are clear commitments to see migrants as crucial to building country’s future.

The Society welcomed these decisions, as well as the Government’s election commitment to give permanent protection to 19,000 refugees on temporary visas, so that they too can contribute with us to Australia’s future.

But sadly, four months after the election, the Government has not yet announced its plan to implement this commitment, nor given a time when it will be announced.

This delay is causing unnecessary distress to these vulnerable people, many of whom the Society supports. We call on the Government to announce its plan by the end of October, including any funding for this financial year in the October Budget.

Sunday 25 September is the 108th World Day of Migrants and Refugees. Pope Francis’ theme for the day is ‘Building the Future with Migrants and Refugees’.

The Australian Catholic Migrant and Refugee Office has produced a kit giving guidance to assist parishes and other Church communities celebrate this day.

The Society calls on Vincentians and other Catholics to encourage their parishes to use this kit in their Masses on Sunday 25 September.

The kit includes stories celebrating the Australian Church’s commitment to a future with migrants and refugees but also includes a video commenting on the darker side of Australia’s approach to many other vulnerable people seeking our protection, many of whom the Society also supports.

The Society welcomes Minister Giles’ recent statement that he is determined to implement all aspects of the ALP’s National Platform on refugees which, in addition to granting permanent protection to refugees on temporary visas, includes

• abolishing the unfair fast-track refugee assessment process

• ensuring people in need (including asylum seekers) have a safety net.

  As outlined in the Society’s 2022 election statement, much more than this needs to be done to provide justice to the many people seeking our protection.

  But quick implementation of the Government party’s own platform would be a good start in allowing these people to join us in building a better Australia together.

  The kit is available via the link below:

  https://www.acmro.catholic.org.au/resources/migrant-refugee-kit/booklet/1413-migrant-and-refugee- kit-2022/file